British Houzz: A Cosy Christmas Wonderland in Kent
The characterful details and period charm of Ian and Sian’s Kent farmhouse make it the perfect place to celebrate a traditional Christmas
Transforming a dark and dated cottage into a bright and cosy home was a challenge that Sian and Ian Ross took on happily when they moved into this 16th century property in 2014. “When we first viewed the house, it was very dark and looked like a pub,” says Sian, “but something about it just kept calling me back and I could really see the potential in it.” Fast forward one year and it’s now a cosy and welcoming space, packed with character and charm.
So when they discovered this 500-year-old cottage, Sian, who runs a small business painting vintage furniture, leapt at the opportunity to transform it into her dream home. “As soon as I saw this place, I just knew that if I lifted my style out of my old house and put it in here, it would work.”
Sian and Ian actually viewed the cottage four or five times before they decided to make an offer on it. “It looked like a pub before,” says Sian. “It was very dark, there were traces of bright red paint under the white on the walls, the beams were black – and everything else was brown. There were even nails in the walls for horse brasses.”
Sian and Ian actually viewed the cottage four or five times before they decided to make an offer on it. “It looked like a pub before,” says Sian. “It was very dark, there were traces of bright red paint under the white on the walls, the beams were black – and everything else was brown. There were even nails in the walls for horse brasses.”
But the couple could see the potential in the characterful home and it had many of the things on Sian’s wish list – beams, an inglenook fireplace and a separate dining room – so they decided to make an offer.
Walls painted in Chalky Downs No 4, Dulux
Walls painted in Chalky Downs No 4, Dulux
The first thing Sian and Ian did when they got the keys was to lighten up the entire place, starting with the beams.
“When you sit on the sofa in the living room, you can see through the length of the house,” says Sian, “so I wanted to tackle the beams first, as I knew that would lighten up the entire space.”
“When you sit on the sofa in the living room, you can see through the length of the house,” says Sian, “so I wanted to tackle the beams first, as I knew that would lighten up the entire space.”
The couple moved in on Friday 31 October last year and immediately started painting the beams. “By 6am on Sunday morning, we’d finished the entire house,” recalls Sian.
She also painted many of the pieces of furniture herself and even gave the dark brown linoleum floor a coat of white paint as a quick fix to lighten up the space.
The two armchairs in the living room have been upholstered in original Post Office sacks, which Sian found at a garage sale. The seats have been covered in offcuts from a linen curtain.
Floor painted in ‘Old White‘: Annie Sloan; beams painted in ‘Wolf’ (discontinued): Wickes; buttoned linen sofa: Rose & Grey
She also painted many of the pieces of furniture herself and even gave the dark brown linoleum floor a coat of white paint as a quick fix to lighten up the space.
The two armchairs in the living room have been upholstered in original Post Office sacks, which Sian found at a garage sale. The seats have been covered in offcuts from a linen curtain.
Floor painted in ‘Old White‘: Annie Sloan; beams painted in ‘Wolf’ (discontinued): Wickes; buttoned linen sofa: Rose & Grey
To add warmth to the living room, Sian and Ian ordered a wood-burning stove for the fireplace and planned to have it installed for Christmas. However, just before it was due to arrive, they decided to chip off the render in the inglenook to expose the bricks behind. Half of the job worked perfectly, revealing neat rows of bricks, but then disaster struck.
“As Ian chipped off the render on the left-hand side, it all started to crumble and fall down, revealing a total mess behind,” says Sian. “Some of the bricks had been put in the wrong way round. We think perhaps there was a bread oven there before and it had been roughly filled in and covered up some time ago.”
“As Ian chipped off the render on the left-hand side, it all started to crumble and fall down, revealing a total mess behind,” says Sian. “Some of the bricks had been put in the wrong way round. We think perhaps there was a bread oven there before and it had been roughly filled in and covered up some time ago.”
“We didn’t know what to do, as the wood-burner was due to arrive imminently, so I put a plea for help on social media and Damon Mackins of Kentish Restorations was recommended to us. He was a lifesaver, as he knows so much about period buildings,” says Sian.
Damon built a new brick wall in front of the existing one and used lime mortar, as it was really important to everyone that the home was restored sympathetically using original materials where possible. “He finished the wall at 10pm the night before the wood-burner arrived!” adds Sian.
Damon built a new brick wall in front of the existing one and used lime mortar, as it was really important to everyone that the home was restored sympathetically using original materials where possible. “He finished the wall at 10pm the night before the wood-burner arrived!” adds Sian.
Sian has dressed the house for the festive period with lots of natural materials and has woven glittering fairy lights and twinkling glass decorations throughout. “The cottage suits Christmas,” she says.
The dining room is a cosy space, with an open fire, vintage candelabra and glittering crystal chandelier adding to the opulent feel – the perfect spot for a Christmas feast.
Parlane star lanterns: Next
Stable doors lead off from the dining room into the kitchen, which is housed in an extension to the original part of the building.
Dining table: Bamboo Tiger
Dining table: Bamboo Tiger
The exit sign in the kitchen is another of Sian’s restorations. Ian rescued the sign from his work, where it was about to be thrown out, and brought it home for Sian, who demonstrated her creative flair by painting it soft white, adding the chains and suspending it from the ceiling.
Ian also stripped back the brick wall in the kitchen. When they moved in, it was covered in a layer of render, but a careful renovation revealed the underlying brick, which adds to the country cottage feel.
Crockery: Emma Bridgewater
Crockery: Emma Bridgewater
Sian describes her style as a mix of French, Swedish and vintage influences and explains she’s drawn to soft greys, stone whites and French greys. This soft colour palette runs through all of the rooms, ensuring the whole house feels consistent.
This natural wreath brings festive charm to a Welsh dresser, while a string of fairy lights adds warmth and sparkle.
Garlands of greenery and winter berries adorn the fireplace in the dining room and create a rustic feel.
The master bedroom is calm and cosy, with vintage furniture and a soft colour palette. The carved oak French bed is an antique Sian found on eBay and the DAB vintage-style radio was a great find from Aldi.
In daughter Daisy’s bedroom, the soft colour palette continues. The bed was a find from an antiques shop and Sian painted it a light grey to brighten it up. The screen was an online purchase and Sian covered it herself with fabric from a duvet cover. “I found a pack of two toile duvet covers,” she explains, “so I put one on the bed and used the other to create panels for the screen.”
This creative approach is typical of Sian’s can-do attitude. “If I can’t find the fabric I want for a project, I’ll use anything – a dress, a cushion, whatever I can find,” she says.
Grey toile duvet covers: Next; bed: Brocante
This creative approach is typical of Sian’s can-do attitude. “If I can’t find the fabric I want for a project, I’ll use anything – a dress, a cushion, whatever I can find,” she says.
Grey toile duvet covers: Next; bed: Brocante
A new front door in soft duck-egg blue ensures the exterior of the home ties in neatly with the updated interior.
TELL US
What do you think of this festive 16th century cottage? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this festive 16th century cottage? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here Sian Ross, who runs vintage furniture and homewares company Simply Chic, Ian Ross, an engineer for the University of Kent, and their daughter, Daisy, and dog, Ralphie
Location Kent
Property A cottage built in the1500s
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
“We’ve always lived in period homes,” says Sian Ross. “New-build properties just aren’t for us.” Before they bought this house, the couple lived in a 1930s home, which was airy and bright. But, Sian admits, “Even that was just too modern for me; my style is much more suited to older properties.”